School told to improve standards

ST Patrick’s Primary School has been told that it requires improvement after after slipping a grade in its latest Ofsted inspection.

A total of 22 languages are spoken by pupils at the Oldham primary, and they start with skills which are well below those typical for their age.

The inspectors found that they made better than expected progress in nursery and reception, where teaching was good.

They standards they achieved in English and maths when they left school dipped to well below average in 2013.

But Ofsted said that most pupils were now making better than expected progress, and that the attainment of Year 6 pupils who left this month was expected to rise.

Teaching required improvement and expectations of what pupils’ could achieve were not high enough.

Ofsted also said that there had been a few incident of racist and homophobic name-calling by pupils and that their attendance was consistently below average.

Governors had not held the school to account for weaknesses in its performance, although this was improving.

St Patrick’s is being supported by another school to raise standards and Ofsted added: “The head teacher has accurately identified weaknesses in the quality of teaching and achievement and has sought support to ensure that improvements are made and can be sustained over time. Middle leaders have introduced initiatives which has had a positive impact on raising achievement.”

Overall, the school was classed as grade 3 (requires improvement, down from grade 2 (good) previously.

Head teacher Helen Halliwell said that the inspection regime had become more rigorous and added: “We accept the recommendations made by Ofsted and we are on a fast track to improving our standards.

“Ofsted recognised that the school had already identified areas for improvement before the inspection and that we had begun working with another Oldham school. We are pleased that the report acknowledges that most pupils are now making better than expected progress.”